The Minster Practice, Lichfield

Can you trust the Internet?

Researchers at the University of Sydney looked at immunisation. They used 7 search engines to look for terms like vaccination and immunisation. 43% of sites were antivaccination sites. Sites consistently presented themselves as legitimate scientific authorities using quasiscientific emotional and conspiratorial appeals.
Davies P et al Arch Dis Childhood 2002; 87:22-25

Is all evidence the same?

An understanding of degrees of medical evidence is necessary if you are to evaluate the results of your own Internet searching.

Up to date Levels of Evidence and Grades of Recommendation http://www.cebm.net/levels_of_evidence.asp

Sites open to public that summarise evidence

The NHS has paid for access for the general public in England as well as NHS staff to the Clinical Evidence database: "The international source of the best available evidence for effective health care" http://www.nelh.nhs.uk/clinical_evidence.asp Please use this link to be redirected to the Clinical Evidence site to minimise access and subscription problems.

The new gateway to the NHS for the general public also allows access to a vast amount of health information. Check out www.nhs.uk

Updated 05/08/2007

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Homepage last modified: August 25, 2008.